Companion animals LOVE the holidays! With so many shiny, sparkly, crinkly things to munch on, what's not to love?! Setting up a tree or hanging decorations with the intention that Fido and Kitty will admire your work from afar is likely a tad self delusional. How is Kitty supposed to resist strand after strand of silvery tinsel as it drapes so enticingly on the tree? And, Fido has an equal passion for Holiday trinkets and is charmingly capable of luring you into a false sense of security until you leave the room and then its ON!

Aside from not decorating at all, there are some defensive maneuvers that can be employed to make your Holiday season a safe and happy one for your entire family, fur-babies included. Try to use the standard of having a 2 year old child at large in your home and go from there. Monitor your pets around trees and decorations as if you were chasing a toddler, and all should be Holly Jolly!

Tree safety is super important when sharing your home and holidays with your four footed family members but taking a few extra moments to "baby proof" your environment is well worth the time. It's much better practice to secure or block access to the tree than have to repeatedly pick it up and clean up the inevitable mess. Guaranteed that kind of thing will happen at 3am when you are sound asleep and scare the mistletoe out of you so please take the proper precautions!

Holiday plants and flowers can be a risk when ingested so its equally as important to elevate your Holly & Poinsettias. The list is longer than 2 plants so in the interest of avoiding a drastic outcome, keep your festive fauna well out of reach. Remember, cats are very logical thinkers and love the challenge of reaching those up and away items so maybe just go straight for silk plants and give yourself a free pass on the toxic plant thing. 

Pay careful attention to food ninjas and counter surfers during your holiday fetes also. With all the tantalizing smells coming out of your kitchen and trays of food everywhere, you can be assured that your pets will be all about trying to sneak some yummy snacks. Assign someone to be Food Police to ensure that there is no unauthorized nibbling happening at your family gathering.  The same is true for alcoholic beverages. Keep your adult drinks out of reach of your pets, just to be on the safe side. 

In the same way that humans get stressed over the holidays, animals can feel overwhelmed by the the constant stimulation of visitors and marathon dinner parties. Ensure that a quiet and calm space is available to your pet and provide food and water in that area. If you can't escape from the In-Laws, at least give your fur-baby a hideaway to scamper off to! 

Another great holiday safety tip is to check doors and guests as your guests arrive and depart. All it takes is opportunity and a quick second for your pet to make a break for it, so make sure you secure all handles and latches behind your party goers. 

With all of the preparation you put into a successful Holiday season, remember to take that extra step or two to keep you entire family safe and happy during your parties and gatherings. If having to watch the dog and/or cat is just one thing too many for you to manage during an event, it's OK to keep them safely kenneled or behind a closed bedroom door. 

With the Holiday Season right around the corner and so many people on your wish list, it may be very tempting indeed to give the gift of constant companionship to someone you are close to. Perhaps you have overheard a family member or friend waxing poetic on how they would love to have a pet of their own to come home to or hog the bed covers for them. 

My strong advice on the subject is to halt this idea in its tracks immediately if not sooner. Pet selection and timing should be absolutely up to an individual or family and not something that is forced upon them through gifting. 

Of course there are instances of animals being re-homed but this again is not an ideal situation. Being handed from family to family can decrease the ability to trust and increase unwanted behaviors in an animal. Being in a home where they feel unwanted and unloved is not good for the gifted pet either. 

Animals are highly intuitive and will pick up on negative emotions whether they are expressed verbally or not. If you or someone you know is considering gifting an animal this Holiday Season, why not start small with a stuffed Teddy or create an I OWE U voucher that offers to cover an adoption fee when the time is right? Another great option is to donate to a rescue, shelter or, animal charity on behalf of your friend or family member. 

In the interest of ensuring that an adoptive home is a FOREVER home, please do your homework on the long term impact of gifting an adorable wriggling puppy or warm fluffy kitten this Holiday Season.